What Is a Tummy Tuck? Types, Candidacy, and Recovery

A tummy tuck, medically known as abdominoplasty, is surgery to flatten and firm the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat and repairing weakened abdominal muscles. It's one of the most requested body-contouring procedures, and one that comes in more than one form.

Full Tummy Tuck vs. Mini Tummy Tuck

A full tummy tuck addresses the entire abdomen — tightening muscle from the ribcage to the pubic area and removing excess skin along a lower abdominal incision. A mini tummy tuck is a smaller-scale version, generally suited to patients with excess skin and muscle laxity limited mostly to the area below the belly button, with a shorter incision and typically quicker recovery.

Who Tends to Be a Good Candidate

• Loose or excess abdominal skin
• Weakened or separated abdominal muscles (common after pregnancy)
• A stable weight, ideally after completing any planned family
• Realistic expectations — this reshapes the abdomen, it isn't a weight-loss procedure

What Recovery Looks Like

Recovery scales with the extent of surgery — a mini tummy tuck typically involves a shorter downtime than a full procedure. Most patients need a couple of weeks away from work at minimum, with strenuous activity restricted for longer while internal muscle repairs heal.

Read more on the tummy tuck procedure page.